As CentOS 8 draws steadily to End of Life on December 31st, 2021, efforts have been made to come up with centos alternative distributions which will fill in the big shoes left by CentOS 8. This comes following RedHat’s decision to dump CentOS 8 in favor of CentOS Stream, something which has elicited mixed reactions.
Many users have felt betrayed by RedHat’s move to cut short the life of CentOS 8 by 9 years. A good number have also expressed their concerns about the stability and security that CentOS Stream will provide.
[ You might also like: How to Migrate CentOS 8 Installation to CentOS Stream ]
Given the reluctance to shift to CentOS Stream, a few alternatives have been made available to the public as an alternative to CentOS 8. One of them is Rocky Linux which is a downstream build of CentOS 8.
Rocky Linux aims at becoming a solid and stable Linux distribution for use in production environments. Then there’s AlmaLinux, which also intends to fill the gap left by the soon-to-be demise of CentOS 8.
The first stable release of AlmaLinux was made available on March 30, 2021, as AlmaLinux 8.3. Currently, the latest stable release is AlmaLinux 8.4 and was released on May 26, 2021.
In this tutorial, we will look at how you can install AlmaLinux 8.4 step-by-step.
Prerequisites
- An ISO image file of AlmaLinux 8.4. You can download it from the official AlmaLinux download page and select the image from a wide variety of mirrors from listed regions. The ISO image is quite enormous – 9.8 G for the DVD ISO. If your internet is not stable, you can opt for the minimal ISO which is about 2G. Be advised that the minimal ISO is stripped down of all the GUI components.
- A 16 GB USB drive for use as a bootable installation medium. Once the ISO download is complete, you can use the UNetbootin or Etcher tool to make a bootable USB drive from the ISO image.
- A minimum of 15GB of hard disk space and 2GB RAM.
- A stable and fast internet connection.
Installation of AlmaLinux
Once you have created the bootable USB drive, plug it in and reboot your system Be sure that your PC boots from the USB drive by modifying the boot priority in the BIOS.
Booting AlmaLinux from Bootable Drive
1. Once your PC boots, you will be greeted by a dark screen with the following installation options. Select the first option “Install AlamLinux 8.4” and hit the ENTER key on your keyboard.
![How To Install Almalinux 8.4 Step By Step 1 Almalinux Grub Menu](https://www.tecmint.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/AlmaLinux-Grub-Menu.png)
![How To Install Almalinux 8.4 Step By Step 2 Almalinux Grub Menu](https://www.tecmint.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/AlmaLinux-Grub-Menu.png)
2. This will be followed later by a flurry of boot messages as you can see below.
![How To Install Almalinux 8.4 Step By Step 3 Almalinux Booting](https://www.tecmint.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/AlmaLinux-Booting.png)
![How To Install Almalinux 8.4 Step By Step 4 Almalinux Booting](https://www.tecmint.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/AlmaLinux-Booting.png)
3. The installer will initialize and display a few instructions as shown below.
![How To Install Almalinux 8.4 Step By Step 5 Almalinux Instructions](https://www.tecmint.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/AlmaLinux-Instructions.png)
![How To Install Almalinux 8.4 Step By Step 6 Almalinux Instructions](https://www.tecmint.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/AlmaLinux-Instructions.png)
Select AlmaLinux Installation Language
4. A few seconds later, the welcome screen will come to view and will require you to select the installation language. Select the language you are most comfortable in and click “Continue”.
![How To Install Almalinux 8.4 Step By Step 7 Select Almalinux Language](https://www.tecmint.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/AlmaLinux-Language.png)
![How To Install Almalinux 8.4 Step By Step 8 Select Almalinux Language](https://www.tecmint.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/AlmaLinux-Language.png)
5. Before the installation of AlmaLinux starts, some key aspects of the operating system that fall under Localization, Software, System, and User settings need to be configured.
Let’s start with setting up the Keyboard.
Configure the Keyboard
6. To set up the keyboard, click on the ‘Keyboard’ icon under the ‘Localization’ section as shown.
![How To Install Almalinux 8.4 Step By Step 9 Select Almalinux Keyboard](https://www.tecmint.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/AlmaLinux-Keyboard.png)
![How To Install Almalinux 8.4 Step By Step 10 Select Almalinux Keyboard](https://www.tecmint.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/AlmaLinux-Keyboard.png)
7. The default keyboard language is set to English. You can add more layouts by clicking the (+)
plus sign button at the bottom and test how your text would appear at the text box on the right as indicated.
Here, I will go with the default selection since it works perfectly well for me and click on ‘Done’ at the top left corner.
![How To Install Almalinux 8.4 Step By Step 11 Almalinux Keyboard Layout](https://www.tecmint.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/AlmaLinux-Keyboard-Layout.png)
![How To Install Almalinux 8.4 Step By Step 12 Almalinux Keyboard Layout](https://www.tecmint.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/AlmaLinux-Keyboard-Layout.png)
Configure Language Support
8. Next, we are going to set up language support, so click on the ‘Language Support’ icon.
![How To Install Almalinux 8.4 Step By Step 13 Almalinux Language Support](https://www.tecmint.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/AlmaLinux-Language-Support.png)
![How To Install Almalinux 8.4 Step By Step 14 Almalinux Language Support](https://www.tecmint.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/AlmaLinux-Language-Support.png)
9. This allows you to add additional languages that users can choose from once the installation is complete. Select your preferred language support options and, yet again, click on ‘Done’.
![How To Install Almalinux 8.4 Step By Step 15 Almalinux Additional Language Support](https://www.tecmint.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/AlmaLinux-Additional-Language-Support.png)
![How To Install Almalinux 8.4 Step By Step 16 Almalinux Additional Language Support](https://www.tecmint.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/AlmaLinux-Additional-Language-Support.png)
Configure Time and Date
10. Next on the line is the ‘Time and Date’ settings.
![How To Install Almalinux 8.4 Step By Step 17 Almalinux Time And Date](https://www.tecmint.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/AlmaLinux-Time-and-Date.png)
![How To Install Almalinux 8.4 Step By Step 18 Almalinux Time And Date](https://www.tecmint.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/AlmaLinux-Time-and-Date.png)
11. Click on the world map presented to set your location and later set the corresponding time and date relative to your location. Once done, click on ‘Done’.
![How To Install Almalinux 8.4 Step By Step 19 Set Your Current Location](https://www.tecmint.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/AlmaLinux-Location.png)
![How To Install Almalinux 8.4 Step By Step 20 Set Your Current Location](https://www.tecmint.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/AlmaLinux-Location.png)
Configure Software
12. Under the ‘Software’ section, there are two items: ‘Installation Source’ and ‘Software Selection’.
Click on the ‘Installation Source’ option.
![How To Install Almalinux 8.4 Step By Step 21 Almalinux Installation Source](https://www.tecmint.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/AlmaLinux-Installation-Source.png)
![How To Install Almalinux 8.4 Step By Step 22 Almalinux Installation Source](https://www.tecmint.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/AlmaLinux-Installation-Source.png)
13. Very little intervention is required here as the installation source is already set to ‘Auto-detected installation media’. So simply click on the ‘Done’ button to return to the installation summary page.
![How To Install Almalinux 8.4 Step By Step 23 Choose Almalinux Installation Source](https://www.tecmint.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/Choose-AlmaLinux-Installation-Source.png)
![How To Install Almalinux 8.4 Step By Step 24 Choose Almalinux Installation Source](https://www.tecmint.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/Choose-AlmaLinux-Installation-Source.png)
14. Onto the next item which is ‘Software Selection’.
![How To Install Almalinux 8.4 Step By Step 25 Almalinux Software Selection](https://www.tecmint.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/AlmaLinux-Software-Selection.png)
![How To Install Almalinux 8.4 Step By Step 26 Almalinux Software Selection](https://www.tecmint.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/AlmaLinux-Software-Selection.png)
15. This section presents you with a wide array of base environments that you can choose from and additional software that you can include for the selected environment.
In this guide, we have chosen to go with the ‘Server with GUI’ selection. Feel free to select your preferred environment and select any additional components from the right panel.
![How To Install Almalinux 8.4 Step By Step 27 Almalinux Server With Gui](https://www.tecmint.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/AlmaLinux-Server-with-GUI.png)
![How To Install Almalinux 8.4 Step By Step 28 Almalinux Server With Gui](https://www.tecmint.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/AlmaLinux-Server-with-GUI.png)
Once you are happy with your selections, hit the ‘Done’ button to go back.
Configure Partitioning
16. One of the most crucial aspects that need to be configured is the partitioning scheme of your hard drive. This is found in the ‘Installation Destination’ under ‘System’ as shown.
![How To Install Almalinux 8.4 Step By Step 29 Almalinux Installation Destination](https://www.tecmint.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/AlmaLinux-Installation-Destination.png)
![How To Install Almalinux 8.4 Step By Step 30 Almalinux Installation Destination](https://www.tecmint.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/AlmaLinux-Installation-Destination.png)
17. By default, partitioning is set to Automatic. This is cool for beginners or users who are not familiar with manually creating mount points. However, this limits you as you do not get to specify the mount points to be created and the size to be allocated to the mount points.
To have full control, we will switch to manual partitioning. To achieve this, select the ‘Custom’ option and click on ‘Done’.
![How To Install Almalinux 8.4 Step By Step 31 Almalinux Custom Partitioning](https://www.tecmint.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/AlmaLinux-Custom-Partitioning.png)
![How To Install Almalinux 8.4 Step By Step 32 Almalinux Custom Partitioning](https://www.tecmint.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/AlmaLinux-Custom-Partitioning.png)
Our intended mount points will be configured as shown. Your setup might be different, but don’t fret. Simply follow along and you will get the drift.
/boot 2GB /root 20GB Swap 4GB
18. On the ‘Manual Partitioning’ window, click the (+)
plus sign button as indicated.
![How To Install Almalinux 8.4 Step By Step 33 Almalinux Manual Partitioning](https://www.tecmint.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/AlmaLinux-Manual-Partitioning.png)
![How To Install Almalinux 8.4 Step By Step 34 Almalinux Manual Partitioning](https://www.tecmint.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/AlmaLinux-Manual-Partitioning.png)
19. Fill in the details for the /boot mount point as shown and click the ‘Add mount Point’ button.
![How To Install Almalinux 8.4 Step By Step 35 Almalinux Create Boot Partition](https://www.tecmint.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/AlmaLinux-Create-Boot-Partition.png)
![How To Install Almalinux 8.4 Step By Step 36 Almalinux Create Boot Partition](https://www.tecmint.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/AlmaLinux-Create-Boot-Partition.png)
20. For the root mount point ( / ) fill in the details accordingly and hit the ‘Add mount Point’ button.
![How To Install Almalinux 8.4 Step By Step 37 Almalinux Create Root Partition](https://www.tecmint.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/AlmaLinux-Create-Root-Partition.png)
![How To Install Almalinux 8.4 Step By Step 38 Almalinux Create Root Partition](https://www.tecmint.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/AlmaLinux-Create-Root-Partition.png)
21. Do likewise for the swap volume.
![How To Install Almalinux 8.4 Step By Step 39 Almalinux Create Swap Partition](https://www.tecmint.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/AlmaLinux-Create-Swap-Partition.png)
![How To Install Almalinux 8.4 Step By Step 40 Almalinux Create Swap Partition](https://www.tecmint.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/AlmaLinux-Create-Swap-Partition.png)
22. Our Manual partitioning scheme appears as shown. If everything looks okay, go ahead and click ‘Done’.
![How To Install Almalinux 8.4 Step By Step 41 Almalinux Manual Partitioning Table](https://www.tecmint.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/AlmaLinux-Manual-Partitioning-Table.png)
![How To Install Almalinux 8.4 Step By Step 42 Almalinux Manual Partitioning Table](https://www.tecmint.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/AlmaLinux-Manual-Partitioning-Table.png)
23. To confirm the changes made, click on the ‘Accept changes’ button as shown.
![How To Install Almalinux 8.4 Step By Step 43 Almalinux Partitioning Changes](https://www.tecmint.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/AlmaLinux-Partitioning-Changes.png)
![How To Install Almalinux 8.4 Step By Step 44 Almalinux Partitioning Changes](https://www.tecmint.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/AlmaLinux-Partitioning-Changes.png)
Configure Network and Hostname
24. Another crucial component that you need to set is networking and hostname.
![How To Install Almalinux 8.4 Step By Step 45 Almalinux Network And Hostname](https://www.tecmint.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/AlmaLinux-Network-and-Hostname.png)
![How To Install Almalinux 8.4 Step By Step 46 Almalinux Network And Hostname](https://www.tecmint.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/AlmaLinux-Network-and-Hostname.png)
25. Toggle on your network adapter as shown to acquire an IP address dynamically using DHCP from your DHCP server – in most cases the router. At the very bottom, feel free to specify your system’s hostname and click ‘Apply’ to save the changes. Then click ‘Done’ to save all the changes.
![How To Install Almalinux 8.4 Step By Step 47 Configure Network And Hostname](https://www.tecmint.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/Configure-Network-and-Hostname.png)
![How To Install Almalinux 8.4 Step By Step 48 Configure Network And Hostname](https://www.tecmint.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/Configure-Network-and-Hostname.png)
Configure User Settings
26. This is the last configuration that we are going to make before the installation gets underway. First, we will configure the root password as shown. Provide a strong root password and click ‘Done’.
![How To Install Almalinux 8.4 Step By Step 49 Almalinux Set Root Password](https://www.tecmint.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/AlmaLinux-Set-Root-Password.png)
![How To Install Almalinux 8.4 Step By Step 50 Almalinux Set Root Password](https://www.tecmint.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/AlmaLinux-Set-Root-Password.png)
27. Next, click on ‘User Creation’ to create a regular user.
![How To Install Almalinux 8.4 Step By Step 51 Almalinux User Creation](https://www.tecmint.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/AlmaLinux-User-Account.png)
![How To Install Almalinux 8.4 Step By Step 52 Almalinux User Creation](https://www.tecmint.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/AlmaLinux-User-Account.png)
28. Specify the full name, username and provide a strong password. Finally, click on ‘Done’ to save the changes.
![How To Install Almalinux 8.4 Step By Step 53 Create User Account](https://www.tecmint.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/AlmaLinux-Create-User-Account.png)
![How To Install Almalinux 8.4 Step By Step 54 Create User Account](https://www.tecmint.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/AlmaLinux-Create-User-Account.png)
Begin the Installation of AlmaLinux
29. With all the crucial parameters configured, start the installation by clicking on the ‘Begin Installation’ button.
![How To Install Almalinux 8.4 Step By Step 55 Begin Almalinux Installation](https://www.tecmint.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/Begin-AlmaLinux-Installation.png)
![How To Install Almalinux 8.4 Step By Step 56 Begin Almalinux Installation](https://www.tecmint.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/Begin-AlmaLinux-Installation.png)
30. The installer will begin downloading and installing all the required packages and make the necessary system configurations.
![How To Install Almalinux 8.4 Step By Step 57 Almalinux Installation Progress](https://www.tecmint.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/AlmaLinux-Installation-Progress.png)
![How To Install Almalinux 8.4 Step By Step 58 Almalinux Installation Progress](https://www.tecmint.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/AlmaLinux-Installation-Progress.png)
31. This will take a while, depending on your internet speed. On a fairly stable and fast connection, this should take roughly 20 minutes. Once the installation of AlmaLinux is complete, click on the ‘Reboot system’ button and remove the USB installation medium.
![How To Install Almalinux 8.4 Step By Step 59 Almalinux Installation Completes](https://www.tecmint.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/AlmaLinux-Installation-Completes.png)
![How To Install Almalinux 8.4 Step By Step 60 Almalinux Installation Completes](https://www.tecmint.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/AlmaLinux-Installation-Completes.png)
Starting AlmaLinux
32. Upon rebooting, the AlmaLinux grub bootloader will present you with two options as shown. Select the first option to proceed.
![How To Install Almalinux 8.4 Step By Step 61 Almalinux Grub Boot Loader](https://www.tecmint.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/AlmaLinux-Grub-Boot-Loader.png)
![How To Install Almalinux 8.4 Step By Step 62 Almalinux Grub Boot Loader](https://www.tecmint.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/AlmaLinux-Grub-Boot-Loader.png)
33. The only other step remaining is to accept the License Agreement. Therefore, click on the ‘License Information’ option.
![How To Install Almalinux 8.4 Step By Step 63 Almalinux License Information](https://www.tecmint.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/AlmaLinux-License-Information.png)
![How To Install Almalinux 8.4 Step By Step 64 Almalinux License Information](https://www.tecmint.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/AlmaLinux-License-Information.png)
34. Check the ‘I accept the license agreement’ checkbox and click on ‘Done’.
![How To Install Almalinux 8.4 Step By Step 65 Accept Almalinux License Agreement](https://www.tecmint.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/Accept-AlmaLinux-License-Agreement.png)
![How To Install Almalinux 8.4 Step By Step 66 Accept Almalinux License Agreement](https://www.tecmint.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/Accept-AlmaLinux-License-Agreement.png)
35. To bring the installation to a close, click on ‘FINISH CONFIGURATION’.
![How To Install Almalinux 8.4 Step By Step 67 Finish Almalinux Configuration](https://www.tecmint.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/Finish-AlmaLinux-Configuration.png)
![How To Install Almalinux 8.4 Step By Step 68 Finish Almalinux Configuration](https://www.tecmint.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/Finish-AlmaLinux-Configuration.png)
36. Finally, the login prompt will appear as shown.
![How To Install Almalinux 8.4 Step By Step 69 Almalinux Login](https://www.tecmint.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/AlmaLinux-Login.jpeg)
![How To Install Almalinux 8.4 Step By Step 70 Almalinux Login](https://www.tecmint.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/AlmaLinux-Login.jpeg)
37. Be sure to provide your password and click on ‘Sign in’.
![How To Install Almalinux 8.4 Step By Step 71 Almalinux User Password](https://www.tecmint.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/AlmaLinux-User-Password.jpeg)
![How To Install Almalinux 8.4 Step By Step 72 Almalinux User Password](https://www.tecmint.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/AlmaLinux-User-Password.jpeg)
38. This usher you to the elegant AlmaLinux desktop environment as shown. From here, you can follow the easy post-installation steps and start using AlmaLinux!
![How To Install Almalinux 8.4 Step By Step 73 Almalinux Desktop](https://www.tecmint.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/AlmaLinux-Desktop.png)
![How To Install Almalinux 8.4 Step By Step 74 Almalinux Desktop](https://www.tecmint.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/AlmaLinux-Desktop.png)
Conclusion
If you have followed this guide to this point, then you have successfully installed AlmaLinux 8.4 on your PC. As you might have observed, the steps are similar to those ones used when installing CentOS 8. Your feedback is on this guide is highly welcome.
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